Guards To Keep Out Women Who Pray Loudly

Sheriff’s deputies will guard a church over Easter weekend to keep out two women who pray too loudly, a judge ruled Thursday.

Joan Sudwoj and Cynthia Balconi refused to obey a courtorder barring them from Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, so Judge Bernard Scherer ordered the county sheriff to post deputies to keep them out.

The two women did not attend Thursday’s contempt-of-court hearing.

Sheriff Gary Uhrin said the deputies would drop by the church occasionally over the weekend, and would arrest the women if necessary.

The two violated a Wednesday court order forbidding them from attending the church without the permission of the pastor.

They entered at 7 a.m. Thursday when no service was going on and prayed loudly in the empty sanctuary until a deputy arrived.